Foreign tourists spend 86 US dollars per day

Kathmandu. Despite celebrating the decade of tourism from 2023 to 2033, Nepal does not receive daily expenses of foreign tourists exceeding 100 US dollars. Additionally, foreign tourists primarily focus on three main tourist destinations in Nepal: Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Sauraha (Chitwan). 

Tourism statistics indicate that while 15% of foreign tourists engage in trekking, including hiking and mountaineering, 60% are attracted to wildlife and nature tourism. The first destination for foreign tourists arriving by air route is predominantly Kathmandu. Consequently, a significant portion of foreign tourists centers on exploring Kathmandu's religious and cultural heritage, followed by visits to Pokhara and Sauraha in their itineraries.

According to the Tourism Board's data, Nepal welcomed 1,048,882 tourists within its borders in 2023. Among them, approximately 16% or 154,882 tourists visited for Himalayan climbing and trekking activities, while 62.50% (more than 634,000 tourists) came for wildlife tourism. Of the total, 13% or 132,000 religious tourists visited places like Pashupatinath and Lumbini in Kathmandu, and Mukti Nath, Pathibhara, and Janakpur's Janaki Temple areas.

In the fiscal year 2080/81, the board estimates that approximately 2.8 million tourists visited Nepal by air and road routes. The board's projection suggests that 1.102 million tourists arrived by air routes, while approximately 1.7 million tourists arrived by road routes. According to Maniraj Lamichhane, spokesperson for the Nepal Tourism Board, there is an increase in tourists arriving by road routes compared to those arriving by air, ranging from 30% to 40%.

Two years ago, the Board's study found that about 1.5 million tourists arrived in Nepal by road routes, which has now increased to an estimated 1.7 million. The majority of tourists entering Nepal via road routes are from India. In 2023, the number of Indian tourists arriving by air routes has increased by more than 319,000 compared to those arriving by road routes, a figure that is more than four times higher according to the statistics.

• Choosing three destinations?

Despite the potential for tourism destinations from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west and from the plains to the high Himalayan regions, Nepal has not been able to adequately develop, expand, and promote them. The spokesperson for the board also attributes this to the policy of tourism agencies and agents.

'Whatever is in demand, we sell. Nepali travel agencies do the same. It is only for easily profitable destinations that tourism packages are sold. This is our weakness,' Lamichhane told Ratopati. 'The board has not been able to work in all areas within the country and abroad. It is true.'

In 2079, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation had announced plans to identify and promote special areas for tourism as tourist destinations. The then Minister of Tourism, Jeevan Ram Shrestha, had announced 100 new tourist destinations. However, due to the lack of appropriate plans and promotion, this announcement has been limited to paper.

Lamichhane emphasizes the need for coordination and cooperation between three levels of government for the development and expansion of tourism destinations. 'To understand the limitations of the Tourism Board, additional tourism destinations can also be developed,' he said.

With the development of new tourist destinations, Nepal can also be promoted as a risky and adventure tourism destination, as well as a casino and 'marriage destination.'

• Major Destinations

–National Park and Wildlife onservation areas

–Pashupatinath Temple (Kathmandu)

–Lumbini Buddha Circuit

–Manaslu, Mustang , Humla, Lower Dolpa, Kanchanjunga and Upper Dolpa Trekking

–Pokhara

–Sauraha

Hotel capacity capable of accommodating 3.5 million tourists annually

The Hotel Association of Nepal 'HAN' chairman Vinayak Shah said that the current situation has made it possible to accommodate 3.5 million tourists annually. 'The number of star hotels, tourist-friendly hotels, and resorts is only being counted. We still have investments to make in this area,' he said.

Visit Nepal 2020, which the government announced in 2023, has also made a significant investment in hotel tourism. 'Not only domestic but also foreign investors are attracted to this area. The government needs to create a favorable environment for additional investments,' he said.

• The daily expenditure of foreign tourists is 86 dollars!

According to the Nepal Rastra Bank financial report, $7.6 billion 5 crore 22 lakh rupees have been earned under the heading of service income, including tourism, till the month of Jeth 2081. During the same period, 1 billion 75 crore 16 lakh rupees were spent abroad, causing a loss of 58 billion 6 crore rupees to Nepal.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Nepal Tourism Board, foreign tourists stay an average of 13.2 days in Nepal, with average daily expenses around $86.

However, the Central Statistics Office and the Tourism Board have shown different figures in this regard. After the board's calculation of $86, the Statistics Office raised objections, but no report has been made public.